HomePortfolio.com Links Consumers with Design Professionals

Furniture World Magazine

HomePortfolio.com, a leading Internet destination for premium home design products, announced today the addition of web links to find a design professional for products listed as trade only. The first in a series of programs designed to bring consumers and design professionals together, this new feature will provide consumers with a home design resource to find professionals including architects, interior designers and kitchen and bath specialists. This feature will provide consumers with a direct link to design professionals, opening additional channels for trade only manufacturers, and providing design professionals with access to a highly qualified audience via the Web. By making useful information regarding design services more directly accessible to consumers, the overall experience and process of a renovation project is greatly improved. Of the 929 manufacturers found on HomePortfolio.com, 74 are currently listed 'to-the-trade' with live links to the Resource Guide. An example is Mike, the innovative design manufacturing and retail furniture company. Browsers can search such products as Mike's Decca Lingerie Chest, a beautiful chest in maple situated on a Romanesque crossed maple base. Once consumers click on the item, they are given a complete description with the option to connect to a design professional who can help the consumers with the items they wish to purchase. Shoppers can also access the Resource page directly and click on "find a design professional." On this page, they can quickly link up to the architectural listings of the American Institute of Architects. Interior Designers can be reached by a link to DesignerNet.com that examines the browser's project needs and introduces him or her to the interior designers in their area. Users can also reach kitchen and bath designers by connecting to the National Kitchen and Bath Association web site. About HomePortfolio Inc. Launched in January 1998, HomePortfolio.com is the leading Internet destination for premium home design products and services. HomePortfolio.com is the first of a new kind of web site designed to reorganize an entire market around the interests of the consumer. As the first "portfolio site," HomePortfolio presents an independent editorial selection of the world's best home design products, coupled with tools and services enabling consumers to easily find, save, share, and buy the products they need to create the homes of their dreams. It allows consumers to create online Personal Portfolios, electronic versions of traditional paper clip files. HomePortfolio helps consumers find the nearest brick-and-mortar retailers, as well as buy online. The Company's open marketplace approach embraces all constituents and is making communication and commerce in the home design industry dramatically more efficient. HomePortfolio is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts and recently completed a $20 million second round of funding led by Oak Investment Partners.